🌅 Bala Kanda

Sarga 21

21 shlokas

BK-21-1Bala Kanda 21.1

तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तस्य स्नेहपर्याकुलाक्षरम्। समन्यु: कौशिको वाक्यं प्रत्युवाच महीपतिम्।।1.21.1।।

tacchrutvā vacanṃ tasya snehaparyākulākṣaram| samanyu: kauśiko vākyṃ pratyuvāca mahīpatim||1.21.1||

Translation

तस्य king Dasaratha's, स्नेहपर्याकुलाक्षरम् affectionfilled confused letters, तत् वचनम् those words, श्रुत्वा having heard, कौशिक: Visvamitra, समन्यु: with anger, महीपतिम् addressing the king, वाक्यम् words, प्रत्युवाच replied.

Meaning

Out of affection towards his son, his (king Dasaratha's) plea to Viswamitra was full of contradiction. And on hearing the king, enraged Viswamitra replied:

BK-21-2Bala Kanda 21.2

पूर्वमर्थं प्रतिश्रुत्य प्रतिज्ञां हातुमिच्छसि। राघवाणामयुक्तोऽयं कुलस्यास्य विपर्यय:।।1.21.2।।

pūrvamarthṃ pratiśrutya pratijñāṃ hātumicchasi| rāghavāṇāmayukto'yṃ kulasyāsya viparyaya:||1.21.2||

Translation

पूर्वम् formerly, अर्थम् object or thing, प्रतिश्रुत्य having promised, प्रतिज्ञाम् that promise, हातुम् to break, इच्छसि your are desirous, अयं विपर्यय: in contrariety (breach of vow), राघवाणाम् Raghu's, अस्य कुलस्य in the race of, अयुक्त: improper.

BK-21-3Bala Kanda 21.3

यदीदं ते क्षमं राजन् गमिष्यामि यथाऽगतम्। मिथ्याप्रतिज्ञ: काकुत्स्थ सुखीभव सबान्धव:।।1.21.3।।

yadīdṃ te kṣamṃ rājan gamiṣyāmi yathā'gatam| mithyāpratijña: kākutstha sukhībhava sabāndhava:||1.21.3||

Translation

राजन् O King, इदम् this act of yours, ते to you, क्षमं यदि if appropriate, यथाऽगतम् from where I have come, गमिष्यामि I shall go, काकुत्स्थ OScion of the race of Kakutstha, मिथ्याप्रतिज्ञ: proving false to your promise, सबान्धव: along with your relatives, सुखीभव be happy.

Meaning

O king, if this act of yours is appropriate to you, I will go back (to the places) where from I came. O scion of the race of kakutstha, you have proved false to your promise. Live happily with your relatives".

BK-21-4Bala Kanda 21.4

तस्य रोषपरीतस्य विश्वामित्रस्य धीमत:। चचाल वसुधा कृत्स्ना विवेश च भयं सुरान्।।1.21.4।।

tasya roṣaparītasya viśvāmitrasya dhīmata:| cacāla vasudhā kṛtsnā viveśa ca bhayṃ surān||1.21.4||

Translation

धीमत: of the wise, तस्य विश्वामित्रस्य that Visvamitra's, रोषपरीतस्य seized of wrath, कृत्स्ना entire, वसुधा earth, चचाल had shaken, सुरान् devatas, भयम् fear, विवेश gripped.

Meaning

At the sight of the wise sage Viswamitra seized of wrath, the entire earth shook and devatas were gripped in fear.

BK-21-5Bala Kanda 21.5

त्रस्तरूपं तु विज्ञाय जगत्सर्वं महानृषि:। नृपतिं सुव्रतो धीरो वसिष्ठो वाक्यमब्रवीत्।।1.21.5।।

trastarūpṃ tu vijñāya jagatsarvṃ mahānṛṣi:| nṛpatiṃ suvrato dhīro vasiṣṭho vākyamabravīt||1.21.5||

Translation

सुव्रत: adherent of ascetic practices, धीर: steadfast in his duty, महान् ऋषि: great Rishi, वसिष्ठ: Vasishta, सर्वम् जगत् entire world, त्रस्तरूपम् freightened form, विज्ञाय knowing, नृपतिम् addressing the king, वाक्यम् these words, अब्रवीत् said:

Meaning

Great Vasishta, an adherent of ascetic practices and steadfast (to duty), seeing that the entire world frightened addressed the king, saying:

BK-21-6Bala Kanda 21.6

इक्ष्वाकूणां कुले जातस्साक्षाद्धर्म इवापर:। धृतिमान् सुव्रत: श्रीमान्नधर्मं हातुमर्हसि।।1.21.6।।

ikṣvākūṇāṃ kule jātassākṣāddharma ivāpara:| dhṛtimān suvrata: śrīmānnadharmṃ hātumarhasi||1.21.6||

Translation

इक्ष्वाकूणां कुले in the line of Ikshvaku, जात: born, साक्षात् truely, अपर: another, धर्म: इव god of righteousness (personified), धृतिमान् firm, सुव्रत: observing excellent vows, श्रीमान् auspicious one, धर्मम् virtuousness, हातुम् to abandon, न अर्हसि you are not fit.

Meaning

"Born in the line of Ikshvaku, you are a veritable the second god of righteousness, firm adherent of vows auspicious and virtuous. It is not right on your part to abandon your promise.

BK-21-7Bala Kanda 21.7

त्रिषु लोकेषु विख्यातो धर्मात्मा इति राघव। स्वधर्मं प्रतिपद्यस्व नाधर्मं वोढुमर्हसि।।1.21.7।।

triṣu lokeṣu vikhyāto dharmātmā iti rāghava| svadharmṃ pratipadyasva nādharmṃ voḍhumarhasi||1.21.7||

Translation

राघव O Dasaratha, धर्मात्मा इति as righteousminded, त्रिषु लोकेषु in three worlds, विख्यात:, reputed, स्वधर्मम् your own duty, प्रतिपद्यस्व observe, अधर्मम् unjust act, वोढुम् to endure, न अर्हसि not worthy of you.

Meaning

O Dasaratha you are reputed in the three worlds as righteousminded. Do your own duty. Do not follow an unjust act which is unworthy of respect.

BK-21-8Bala Kanda 21.8

संश्रुत्यैवं करिष्यामीत्यकुर्वाणस्य राघव। इष्टापूर्तवधो भूयात्तस्माद्रामं विसर्जय।।1.21.8।।

sṃśrutyaivṃ kariṣyāmītyakurvāṇasya rāghava| iṣṭāpūrtavadho bhūyāttasmādrāmṃ visarjaya||1.21.8||

Translation

राघव O Dasaratha, एवं करिष्यामि इति I shall do so, संश्रुत्य having promised, अकुर्वाणस्य for one who does not fulfill, इष्टापूर्तवध: भूयात् destruction of merits earned through pious acts of sacrifice and other charitable acts, तस्मात् for that reason, रामम् Rama, विसर्जय send him.

Meaning

O Dasaratha, a promise made and not kept amounts to destruction of merits earned through previous pieties. Therefore send Rama (with him).

BK-21-9Bala Kanda 21.9

कृतास्त्रमकृतास्त्रं वा नैनं शक्ष्यन्ति राक्षसा:। गुप्तं कुशिकपुत्रेण ज्वलनेनामृतं यथा।।1.21.9।।

kṛtāstramakṛtāstrṃ vā nainṃ śakṣyanti rākṣasā:| guptṃ kuśikaputreṇa jvalanenāmṛtṃ yathā||1.21.9||

Translation

कृतास्त्रम् trained in the use of arms, अकृतास्त्रं वा or untrained, कुशिकपुत्रेण by Viswamitra, गुप्तम् protected, एनम् this Rama, ज्वलनेन by flaming fire, अमृतं यथा like divine nectar, राक्षसा: rakshasas, न शक्ष्यन्ति will not be able to compete.

Meaning

Trained or not in the use of arms, as long as Rama is protected by Viswamitra, just as nectar is protected by the flaming firegod rakshasas will not be able to compete with him.

BK-21-10Bala Kanda 21.10

एष विग्रहवान् धर्म एष वीर्यवतां वर:। एष बुध्याऽधिको लोके तपसश्च परायणम्।।1.21.10।।

eṣa vigrahavān dharma eṣa vīryavatāṃ vara:| eṣa budhyā'dhiko loke tapasaśca parāyaṇam||1.21.10||

Translation

एष: Visvamitra, विग्रहवान् embodiment, धर्म: righteousness, एष: Visvamitra, वीर्यवताम् of those possessing prowess, वर: excellent, एष: Visvamitra, बुध्या in intellect, लोके in this world, अधिक: surpasses, तपस: in asceticism, परायणम् last resort (supreme refuge).

Meaning

This (Viswamitra) is an embodiment of righteousness and unsurpassed among the powerful. None can excel him in intellect in this world. He is the supreme refuge in austerity.

BK-21-11Bala Kanda 21.11

एषोऽस्त्रान् विविधान्वेत्ति त्रैलोक्ये सचराचरे। नैनमन्य: पुमान्वेत्ति न च वेत्स्यन्ति केचन।।1.21.11।।

eṣo'strān vividhānvetti trailokye sacarācare| nainamanya: pumānvetti na ca vetsyanti kecana||1.21.11||

Translation

एष: this one, विविधान् various kinds of, अस्त्रान् weapons, वेत्ति knows, सचराचरे among all animate and inanimate beings, त्रैलोक्ये in three words, अन्य: पुमान् no other man, एनं न वेत्ति does not know him, केचन none, न वेत्स्यन्ति are not going to know about him in future.

Meaning

This Viswamitra knows the use of various kinds of weapons which no one knows among the animate and the inanimate in the three worlds. Nor will any one even know in future.

BK-21-12Bala Kanda 21.12

न देवा नर्षय: केचिन्नासुरा न च राक्षसा:। गन्धर्वयक्षप्रवरास्सकिन्नरमहोरगा:।।1.21.12।।

na devā narṣaya: kecinnāsurā na ca rākṣasā:| gandharvayakṣapravarāssakinnaramahoragā:||1.21.12||

Translation

देवा: devatas, न(वेत्स्यन्ति) will not be able to know how to use weapons, ऋषय: rishis, केचित् न none knows, असुरा: nor asuras, राक्षसा: न nor rakshasas, सकिन्नरमहोरगा: along with kinnaras or mighty serpants, गन्धर्वयक्षप्रवरा: nor gandharvas nor best of yakshas.

Meaning

No gods nor sages nor asuras in rakshasas nor kinnaras nor mighty serpents nor gandharvas nor the best of yakshas (will be able to know)

BK-21-13Bala Kanda 21.13

सर्वास्त्राणि भृशाश्वस्य पुत्रा: परमधार्मिका:। कौशिकाय पुरा दत्ता यदा राज्यं प्रशासति।।1.21.13।।

sarvāstrāṇi bhṛśāśvasya putrā: paramadhārmikā:| kauśikāya purā dattā yadā rājyṃ praśāsati||1.21.13||

Translation

भृशाश्वस्य Bhrisasva's, परमधार्मिका: highly virtuous, पुत्रा: sons, सर्वास्त्राणि they also, यदा when, पुरा formerly, राज्यम् kingdom, प्रशासति ruling, कौशिकाय for Viswamitra, दत्ता: were given.

Meaning

All these weapons were given to Viswamitra by Bhrisasva's highly virtuous sons while he was ruling the kingdom.

BK-21-14Bala Kanda 21.14

तेऽपि पुत्रा भृशाश्वस्य प्रजापतिसुतासुता:। नैकरूपा महावीर्या दीप्तिमन्तो जयावहा:।।1.21.14।।

te'pi putrā bhṛśāśvasya prajāpatisutāsutā:| naikarūpā mahāvīryā dīptimanto jayāvahā:||1.21.14||

Translation

प्रजापतिसुतासुता: grand sons of Prajapati, भृशाश्वस्य Bhrisasva's, पुत्रा: sons, तेऽपि as the weapons, नैकरूपा: of diverse forms, महावीर्या: highly energetic, दीप्तिमन्त: full of glory, जयावहा: bring victory.

Meaning

Grandsons (daughter's sons) of Prajapati, they (these weapons) are in diverse forms, highly energetic and full of glory they bring victory.

BK-21-15Bala Kanda 21.15

जया च सुप्रभा चैव दक्षकन्ये सुमध्यमे। ते सुवातेऽस्त्रशस्त्राणि शतं परमभास्वरम्।।1.21.15।।

jayā ca suprabhā caiva dakṣakanye sumadhyame| te suvāte'straśastrāṇi śatṃ paramabhāsvaram||1.21.15||

Translation

जया च Jaya, सुप्रभा च and Suprabha, सुमध्यमे of slender waists, दक्षकन्ये the two daughters of Daksha, ते they, अस्त्रशस्त्राणाम् of Astras and Shastras(weapons for striking and throwing arms and missiles), परमभास्वरम् effulgent, शतम् one hundred, सुवाते gave birth to sons (named as Samharas).

Meaning

Jaya and Suprabha of slender waists are the two daughters of Daksha. They gave birth to one hundred effulgent sons known as astras and shastras.

BK-21-16Bala Kanda 21.16

पञ्चाशतं सुतान् लेभे जया नाम परान् पुरा। वधायासुरसैन्यानाममेयान् कामरूपिण:।।1.21.16।।

pañcāśatṃ sutān lebhe jayā nāma parān purā| vadhāyāsurasainyānāmameyān kāmarūpiṇa:||1.21.16||

Translation

पुरा formerly, जया नाम named Jaya, असुरसैन्यानाम् for asura army, वधाय for the destruction, अमेयान् immeasurable prowess, कामरूपिण: possessing power of changing forms at free will, वरान् boon, पञ्चाशतम् fifty, सुतान् sons, लेभे obtained.

Meaning

Formerly Jaya, for the destruction of the army of asuras gave birth to fifty sons by virtue of a boon. They possess immeasurable power of changing forms at will.

BK-21-17Bala Kanda 21.17

सुप्रभाऽजनयच्चापि पुत्रान्पञ्चाशतं पुन:। संहारान्नामदुर्धर्षान् दुराक्रामान् बलीयस:।।1.21.17।।

suprabhā'janayaccāpi putrānpañcāśatṃ puna:| sṃhārānnāmadurdharṣān durākrāmān balīyasa:||1.21.17||

Translation

सुप्रभापि Suprabha also, दुर्धर्षान् unassailable, दुराक्रमान् invincible, बलीयस: morepowerful, संहारान् नाम Samhara by name पुन: still, पञ्चाशतम् fifty, पुत्रान् sons, अजनयत् gave birth.

Meaning

Suprabha gave birth to another fifty sons named Samharas who are unassailable, invincible and more powerful.

BK-21-18Bala Kanda 21.18

तानि चास्त्राणि वेत्त्येष यथावत्कुशिकात्मज:। अपूर्वाणां च जनने शक्तो भूयस्स धर्मवित्।।1.21.18।।

tāni cāstrāṇi vettyeṣa yathāvatkuśikātmaja:| apūrvāṇāṃ ca janane śakto bhūyassa dharmavit||1.21.18||

Translation

एष: कुशिकात्मज: this Visvamitra, तानि अस्त्राणि these weapons, यथावत् very well, वेत्ति knows, धर्मवित् virtuous, स: भूय: he also, अपूर्वाणाम् of new weapons, जनने च in creation, शक्त: capable.

Meaning

Viswamitra is well conversant with these weapons. Being virtuous, he is capable of creating new weapons also.

BK-21-19Bala Kanda 21.19

एवं वीर्यो महातेजा विश्वामित्रो महायशाः। न रामगमने राजन् संशयं कर्तुमर्हसि।।1.21.19।।

evṃ vīryo mahātejā viśvāmitro mahāyaśāḥ| na rāmagamane rājan sṃśayṃ kartumarhasi||1.21.19||

Translation

महातेजा: highly effulgent, महायशा: highly renowned, विश्वामित्र: Visvamitra, एवं वीर्य: has such prowess, राजन् O King, रामगमने to send Rama, संशयम् doubt, कर्तुम् to entertain, नार्हसि it is not proper for you.

Meaning

Such is the prowess of Viswamitra who is a highly effulgent and highly renowned sage. O King in sending Rama, you need not entertain any doubt.

BK-21-20Bala Kanda 21.20

तेषां निग्रहणे शक्तस्स्वयं च कुशिकात्मज:। तव पुत्रहितार्थाय त्वामुपेत्याभियाचते।।1.21.20।।

teṣāṃ nigrahaṇe śaktassvayṃ ca kuśikātmaja:| tava putrahitārthāya tvāmupetyābhiyācate||1.21.20||

Translation

कुशिकात्मज: son of Kusika, स्वयं च by himself, तेषाम् of those rakhsasas, निग्रहणे in repressing, शक्त: capable, तव your, पुत्रहितार्थाय welfare of your son, त्वाम् you, उपेत्य having reached, अभि याचते begs.

Meaning

Son of Kusika, even though capable of repressing those rakhsasas by himself, it is for the welfare of your son that he is here requesting you to spare him".

BK-21-21Bala Kanda 21.21

इति मुनिवचनात्प्रसन्नचित्तो रघुवृषभस्तु मुमोद भास्वराङ्ग:। गमनमभिरुरोच राघवस्य प्रथितयशा: कुशिकात्मजाय बुध्या।।1.21.21।।

iti munivacanātprasannacitto raghuvṛṣabhastu mumoda bhāsvarāṅga:| gamanamabhiruroca rāghavasya prathitayaśā: kuśikātmajāya budhyā||1.21.21||

Translation

रघुवृषभ: the foremost of Raghus, इति in this manner, मुनिवचनात् by the words of sage Vasishta, प्रसन्नचित्त: with composed mind, भास्वराङ्ग: has a shining body, मुमोद well pleased, प्रथितयशा: one with manifested fame, कुशिकात्मजाय for Visvamitra, राघवस्य गमनम् for taking Rama, बुध्या with his mind, अभिरुरोच consented.

Meaning

Satisfied in his mind at the words of the sage (Vasishta), the full one among the Raghus' (Dasaratha) one with wide reputation, his frame shining gave his cheerful consent to the son of Kusika for Rama's departure. इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये बालकाण्डे एकविंशस्सर्ग:।। Thus ends the twentyfirst sarga of Balakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.